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12 hours ago
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The Boston Celtics, barring any catastrophic late-season collapse, are surely headed for another deep NBA Playoffs run. Coach Joe Mazzulla and the Jaylen Brown-led squad currently sit second in the Eastern Conference standings while also just being 4.5 games back from leading the pack. This may all mean that a run for Banner 19 is coming and it all starts with answering whether or not Jayson Tatum returns.
Tatum back on the practice court
Apparently, the five-time All-NBA forward has returned to 5-on-5 scrimmages prior to the Celtics' game against the New York Knicks. Shams Charania dropped the update on NBA Countdown.
"Jayson Tatum has started controlled 5-on-5 scrimmaging with coaches. He has aggressively attacked his rehab at every turn. Listen, there's more boxes for Jayson Tatum to check. There's more phases in his rehab. He has got to practice with the team of course. Then, there's also the normal curve of returning from an injury of this magnitude, a torn Achilles in May, to a really good team that has aspirations in advancing to the playoffs," the NBA Insider said.
Notably, Celtics have refused to rule Tatum out for the 2025-26 NBA season back in October. Coach Mazzulla also went all-in on developing depth with Nikola Vucevic getting added during the trade deadline. Guys like Hugo Gonzalez, Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, and Ron Harper Jr. have also gotten significant minutes to uplift their bench unit.
"Jayson Tatum has made clear that he wants to come back as close to Jayson Tatum. As Jayson Tatum as soon as possible, not a shell of himself, not a lesser percentage of himself. The other side of that is that the Celtics medical staff will have to clear him... He himself will have to feel 100% in trust with that leg before he makes a potential return this season," Charania added.
With Tatum's return, this signals that the Celtics are likely going to chase the Larry O'Brien Trophy come the summer.
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